Taj Gibson let his mind wander to the future for just a bit while USC was in the midst of unraveling against Cal.

This isn’t what he planned.

Gibson returned to USC for his junior year because he didn’t feel right about ending his career with a first-round NCAA Tournament loss. Gibson needed another shot at the tournament, but the way the Trojans were playing, they weren’t even going to make the field.

USC built a 16-point lead against Cal early in the second half, and then the Trojans squandered it. If USC is known for anything, it’s injuries and second-half collapses.

When Gibson decided not to bolt for the NBA, he envisioned USC’s name on another NCAA Tournament bracket. He could hear opposing coaches and broadcasters telling America to look out for the Trojans.

Gibson couldn’t let USC limp out of the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament quarterfinals and start hoping for an NIT game.

He couldn’t end it this way.

“Of course I (thought about it),” Gibson said. “We had to huddle and talk and get guys right or our season was going to be over.”

And possibly Gibson’s collegiate career.

The thing about USC is that every game it has played has been a close one. When Cal made a 15-2 run to pull within three points (54-51) in the second half, the Trojans didn’t lose their composure.

Gibson – the Pac-10’s Defensive Player of the Year – made sure of it. Before the game, he talked to his teammates about playing tough and playing with heart. Gibson had 21 points and 16 rebounds to lead sixth-seeded USC to a 79-75 upset of No. 3-seed Cal.

He was a one-man wrecking crew in the paint. The Bears couldn’t do anything to keep him from dominating the glass.

Gibson wasn’t perfect, either. He had five turnovers and when asked about his statistics, he could only shake his head over the miscues.

“I’ve been working too hard to do that,” he said.

The Trojans got a clutch performance from Daniel Hackett at the free-throw line and countless key rebounds from Gibson.

Gibson had putback dunks and offensive boards and made nice passes, including one across the key to an open DeMar DeRozan, who knocked down a jumper early in the second half. When Cal pulled within one point at 58-57, Gibson made an emphatic dunk.

And after Jorge Gutierrez split the defense and made an easy layup to pull the Bears within three at 63-60, Gibson dunked on a nice pass from Hackett.

Gibson played 34 minutes, including all 20 minutes of the second half.

Gibson thinks about the NBA a lot. Tim Floyd – a former NBA coach – and Gibson talk about it all the time. Floyd reminds him what it takes to play at the next level. Gibson eats it up.

“We have to play with heart,” Gibson said. “The NBA guys are aggressive and come after you every day. It’s the same thing for us for 40minutes.”

USC will play the winner of Thursday’s late game between UCLA and Washington State in tonight’s semifinals. Gibson’s dream of reversing last year’s tournament disappointment will live for another day.

The Trojans (19-12) have a one-point loss at No. 6 Oklahoma to show the NCAA selection committee and a host of close games. Perhaps, the NCAA will take into account the injuries to Dwight Lewis, Leonard Washington and Marcus Simmons.

But victories are the way teams are measured, and if USC can win two more, the Trojans will have an automatic bid to the tournament. Perhaps one more, and USC could receive an at-large berth.

Last year, the Trojans lost to Kansas State 80-67 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Gibson’s career might end without another run in the NCAAs, but he was relieved it didn’t end Thursday.

“I’m not thinking anything about next year,” Gibson said. “I’m just thinking about today and Saturday if we can get there (the NCAAs).”